Board of Trustees
Barbara L. Saunders, President
Mrs. Barbara L. Saunders is a dedicated parent advocate currently serving as a Parent Practitioner for Anti-Drug & Alcohol Crusaders, a local non-profit organization focused on supporting families in the community. Before taking on this vital role, Mrs. Saunders gained valuable experience as a substitute teacher in various suburban school districts outside of Philadelphia.
Her passion for public education was ignited during her tenure as chairperson of the Parents’ Association for the School District of Philadelphia’s Head Start program. In this capacity, she collaborated with the University of Pennsylvania to develop a functional study that tracked the success of Head Start students, contributing to important research in early childhood education.
Mrs. Saunders also has a robust background in human services, having held supervisory positions at several agencies. She managed Community Living Arrangements (CLAs) at Lynch Community Homes of Montgomery County (now KenCrest) and oversaw a workshop program for individuals who are hearing and vision impaired at Overbrook School for the Blind.
She holds a degree in Behavioral Health from Jefferson University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Mrs. Saunders is deeply committed to ensuring that all children have access to quality public education. Since 2003, Mrs. Saunders has served on the board of several schools within the American Paradigm Schools network. She is also the proud parent of two children who are alumni of First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School, the first school in the American Paradigm Schools network.
Lionel Archer, Treasurer
Lionel S. Archer Jr. is a graduate of Temple University’s Tyler School of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design. He is a 29 year employee and Contract Administrator at SEPTA. His career at SEPTA started in the Graphic Design Department. During his first two years at SEPTA he was also a teacher of Graphic Design at the Delaware County Community College in the evenings until it was no longer feasible. During his tenure at SEPTA, Lionel has also worked in the Engineering, Maintenance and Construction Departments as a Contract Compliance Analyst. In this role he reviewed Federal Transit Administration & PennDOT funded SEPTA contracts for compliance with Federal and State regulations. From there he was promoted to Contract Compliance Administrator where he supervised other Contract Compliance Analysts. Lionel’s most recent promotion was to the position of Contract Administrator where he performs “cradle to grave” contract administration functions for assigned contract services in the Technical Services section.
Lionel was born in Washington, DC and moved to South Philadelphia with his parents at the age of 4. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic grade school and St. John Neumann High School. Lionel is married with one son who attends Tacony Academy Charter School.
Dr. Zakia Y. Gates, PhD, Trustee
Dr. Zakia Y. Gates is an Assistant Professor of Education at Eastern University, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She earned her PhD in Professional Studies in K-12 Education from Capella University in 2016 and brings two decades of experience across educational institutions, including charter schools and higher education. From 2007 to 2014, she served as Director of Education at a juvenile facility.
Dr. Gates’s educational philosophy is grounded in social responsibility, transformative pedagogy, and cultural responsiveness. This philosophy informs her research interests and teaching, which include critical race theory, social justice in education, culturally relevant and responsive pedagogies, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her work also explores the experiences of Black women and girls in educational and societal contexts.
She believes that effective teaching and leadership are achieved by being intentional with faith, reason, and justice in preparing future generational leaders.
Staci Capozio, Trustee
Ms. Staci Capozio works for the First Judicial District as a Senior Network Systems Coordinator in the IT department for the last 32 years. She was born and raised in Philadelphia, attended Frankford High School then went to Community College of Philadelphia and Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.
She is a single mother with 2 teenage daughters that attend Tacony Academy Charter School. Both of her girls are heavily involved at the school in sports and music. Staci is a dedicated mother who attends all sporting events, music concerts and more for both of her girls. She has been a part of the Tacony Family since 2014 and has been on the Fundraising Committee at Tacony helping with uniform sales, basket raffle events and many other fundraising events.
Dr. Richard J. Levy, Ed.D., Trustee
Dr. Richard (Rich) Levy, serves as the Director of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this role, he oversees and coordinates all field placements, student teaching, and partnerships within the School of Education and Human Development, collaborating with approximately 95 partners to arrange clinical experiences and transportation for students.
Before joining Saint Joseph’s University in June 2023, Dr. Levy was a fourth-grade teacher with the School District of Philadelphia. He earned his Master of Education in 2020 and his Doctor of Education in 2024, both from Saint Joseph’s University.
Dr. Levy has also contributed to initiatives such as the “In Conversation With K-12 Leaders” series, demonstrating his commitment to fostering educational leadership and community engagement. In 2024, Dr. Levy was the recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award from PAC-TE for his research on Understanding Work Stress On Urban, Public K-12 Teachers’ Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic.
Throughout his career, Dr. Levy has remained dedicated to supporting the professional growth of future educators, emphasizing the importance of practical, hands-on experiences in the development of effective teaching practices. His leadership and innovative approach continue to shape the clinical experience landscape at Saint Joseph’s University, making a lasting impact on the institution and the broader educational community.
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